Sound Of The Week: Otha


Norwegian electronic project Otha, led by Othalie and her collaborator Tyler, has emerged from a five-year hiatus with their long-anticipated new EP, Club 20. Renowned for their cult status within the electronic scene, Otha captured audience attention with viral early singles, including ‘One of The Girls’ and ‘Tired And Sick.’ These tracks showcased Othalie’s emblematic oxymoronic delivery on relatable themes, garnering over 16M+ streams on Spotify alone.

Otha describes their unique sound as “club music for introverts,” delving into themes of outsider experiences, public versus private personas, personal agency, and the impact of social media. The EP’s lead single, ‘You’re The Best,’ tackles the dark allure of doom scrolling, all wrapped in an infectious dance beat. Othalie explains, “‘You’re the Best’ was written while I was spending a little too much time scrolling on my phone. Just a song about being stupidly obsessed with someone on the internet.” 

The single follows the release of ‘I Hate You In The Morning,’ Otha’s first comeback track that The Face described as an “off-kilter slice of electro pop,” while Clash Magazine deemed it “thrilling.” Otha made a notable entrance to the electronic music scene with tracks like ‘Tired and Sick,’ a stress-induced stream-of-consciousness anthem; ‘One Of The Girls,’ which empowers the idea of taking control of one’s life; and ‘I’m On Top,’ a commentary on the contemporary struggle to let go and enjoy the nightlife. Their music continues to explore elements of the dance floor while navigating themes of alienation, power dynamics, and the dichotomy of public and private identities.

Born and raised on Norway’s west coast, Otha’s sonic palette is influenced by a rich heritage of Scandinavian pop—”I don’t know how many times I’ve listened to Body Talk: it’s the ultimate album, and only contains bangers”—while also drawing from elements of shoegaze, disco, and rave culture.

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Club 20 is out now: https://linktr.ee/othamusic